Cloud Storage
ISO 27001
IONOS data security
Achieving Sovereign Data Security in the EU Cloud
Concerns over non-EU data access laws and complex pricing models are driving over 50% of EU businesses to re-evaluate their cloud strategy. A truly European cloud architecture offers a clear path to digital sovereignty and robust data security.
Key Takeawys
True data security requires a provider governed exclusively by EU law to eliminate risks from foreign statutes like the CLOUD Act.
Immutable storage with Object Lock is the most effective defense against ransomware, ensuring a clean, unchangeable copy of data is always available for recovery.
A predictable cost model with zero egress or API fees is critical for MSPs and enterprises to control budgets and avoid vendor lock-in, as mandated by the upcoming EU Data Act.
In 2025, European enterprises and MSPs face a critical challenge: ensuring robust data security while navigating a complex web of regulations like GDPR and NIS-2. Many decision-makers now see provider origin and EU data centers as top selection criteria, driven by the need to avoid foreign jurisdiction and the CLOUD Act's reach. This shift demands more than just a local data center; it requires a storage architecture built from the ground up for sovereignty, compliance, and cost predictability. This article outlines a blueprint for achieving superior data security with an EU-native, S3-compatible object storage solution designed for the demands of modern IT.
Establish Digital Sovereignty with EU-Only Infrastructure
True data sovereignty is a strategic imperative for 84% of European technology leaders. It extends beyond simply storing data in an EU data center; it means ensuring the provider is governed exclusively by EU law. This eliminates exposure to foreign statutes like the U.S. CLOUD Act, which can compel U.S.-based providers to grant access to data regardless of its physical location.
A sovereign-by-design approach uses country-level geofencing to guarantee data residency within certified European facilities. This provides the legal certainty required by 70% of companies for whom EU jurisdiction is a critical factor. For industries like financial services, this level of control is non-negotiable for meeting strict regulatory requirements. This foundation of legal and geographical control is the first step toward a resilient security posture.
Build Resilience with an Always-Hot Storage Architecture
Complex, tiered storage models introduce risk and operational friction, with restore delays impacting over 40% of recovery attempts. An “Always-Hot” object storage model ensures all data is immediately accessible, eliminating tier-restore delays and hidden fees. This architecture is built for consistency, with multi-AZ replication to prevent single points of failure and protect data integrity.
This design delivers predictable low latencies, a key factor for performance-sensitive workloads. It supports millions of small files as efficiently as large archives, a critical capability for modern backup and analytics pipelines. An always-hot model simplifies operations for a 30% lower total cost of ownership and strengthens your disaster recovery strategy. With a resilient foundation, you can implement specific security measures to counter direct threats.
Defend Against Threats with Immutable Storage and Advanced IAM
Ransomware remains a top threat, with Gartner estimating 75% of IT organizations will face an attack by 2025. The most effective defense is immutable storage using Object Lock. This feature makes backup data unchangeable and undeletable for a set period, rendering it impervious to malicious encryption. This provides a guaranteed clean copy for recovery, a core component of modern ransomware protection.
Robust security requires multiple layers of defense. Here are key controls to implement:
Multi-Layer Encryption: Protect data with distinct encryption keys for data in transit and at rest.
Identity and Access Management (IAM): Use granular, role-driven policies (RBAC) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) to enforce the principle of least privilege.
External IdP Support: Integrate with existing identity providers via SAML/OIDC for streamlined, secure access.
Secure Defaults: Ensure all new data buckets are created with the highest security settings enabled by default.
Immutable backups are the last line of defense, ensuring 100% of your critical data is recoverable. These technical controls must be paired with a commitment to regulatory alignment.
Achieve Proactive Compliance with New EU Regulations
Upcoming EU regulations demand a new level of operational readiness. The EU Data Act, applying from September 2025, mandates data portability to prevent vendor lock-in. Cloud providers must offer a clear exit path, including metadata and access information, without prohibitive egress fees. This aligns perfectly with a transparent economic model where there are zero egress or API call costs.
The NIS-2 Directive also raises the bar for cybersecurity, requiring continuous security processes and supply-chain assurance from cloud providers. A compliant provider must demonstrate:
Documented vulnerability management and patching protocols.
Strict incident reporting timelines within 24 hours of detection.
Verifiable security processes for the entire service delivery chain.
Alignment with GDPR principles for all data handling.
Choosing a provider whose operations are already aligned with these future regulations turns compliance from a burden into a competitive advantage. This is especially valuable for partners and MSPs who serve regulated clients.
Enable Partner Success with a Predictable and Scalable Model
For MSPs and resellers, margin predictability is everything. A cloud storage model with zero egress fees, no API call costs, and no minimum storage duration provides stable, defensible margins for Backup-as-a-Service (BaaS) and archiving solutions. This transparent approach eliminates the bill shock that affects nearly 60% of businesses using hyperscale clouds.
A partner-ready platform must also deliver operational efficiency. A multi-tenant console with robust RBAC and MFA simplifies management across hundreds of clients. Full automation capabilities via API and CLI allow for seamless integration into existing workflows and reporting systems. With fast onboarding and growing local access through distributors like api (Germany) and Northamber plc (UK), partners can scale their business by over 200% in the first year. This partner-centric model makes it simple to migrate existing workloads.
Ensure Seamless Migration with Full S3 Compatibility
Migrating to a new cloud platform should not require rewriting applications or scripts. Full S3-API compatibility is essential for a seamless transition, protecting past investments and minimizing risk. This goes beyond basic object operations to include advanced capabilities like versioning, lifecycle management, and event notifications.
This 1-to-1 compatibility ensures that all existing tools, from backup software like NovaBackup to custom data pipelines, continue to work without modification. A simple endpoint change is all that is needed to start realizing the benefits of a sovereign, predictable, and secure cloud storage environment. The ability to easily move data reinforces your freedom of action and prevents the vendor lock-in that over 80% of IT leaders are actively trying to avoid.
More Links
German Data Protection Conference (DSK) presents a position paper outlining criteria for sovereign clouds.
The Bremen data protection authority provides an overview of cloud computing from a data protection perspective, version 2.
Bitkom offers its Cloud Report 2024, including charts and analysis of cloud usage.
Statista provides a survey on the use of cloud computing in German companies.
FAQ
How does a European cloud provider enhance my IONOS data security strategy?
A truly European cloud provider, governed solely by EU law, offers a higher level of data security by ensuring your data is shielded from foreign legal jurisdictions like the U.S. CLOUD Act. This provides stronger guarantees for GDPR compliance and digital sovereignty than just using an EU-based data center from a provider with non-EU ties.
What is digital sovereignty and why is it important?
Digital sovereignty means your data is subject only to the laws of the jurisdiction where it is stored. It's important because it ensures control over your digital assets and protects them from foreign government access, which is a critical requirement for compliance with regulations like GDPR and NIS-2.
Can I use my existing backup tools like Veeam or NovaBackup?
Yes. A fully S3-compatible object storage platform works seamlessly with all major backup and recovery tools that use the S3 API. This allows you to enhance your data security with features like immutability without changing your existing workflows.
What makes a cloud storage architecture 'resilient'?
A resilient architecture eliminates single points of failure through features like multi-AZ replication, where data is copied across multiple independent data centers. An 'Always-Hot' model adds to this by ensuring all data is instantly accessible, avoiding the delays and complexities of tiered storage during a recovery event.
How does a predictable pricing model improve security?
Predictable pricing with no egress or API fees removes financial barriers to moving your data. This freedom allows you to switch to a more secure or compliant provider at any time, preventing vendor lock-in and giving you greater control over your security posture.
What is the EU Data Act?
The EU Data Act, fully applicable from September 12, 2025, is a regulation designed to create fairer data sharing practices. For cloud customers, its most important feature is the requirement for providers to remove obstacles to switching services, including the gradual elimination of data egress charges.
